Desafinado Bekkur by Cass Saldanha is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award í bronsi in Húsgagnahönnun Competition Category.

BronsHúsgögn· 2026

Desafinado Bekkur

by Cass Saldanha

Client: SAL+Co

A' Design Award í bronsi Winner in Húsgögn Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Desafinado Bekkur

Desafinado er bekkur hannaður sem rannsókn á jafnvægi og hófsemi. Formið fylgir skandinavískum skýrleika, með beinum línum og einfaldri rúmfræði, í bland við þunga og hispursleysi brasilísks brútalísks módernisma. Lág hlutföll bjóða upp á afslappaða setstöðu og skilin milli setu og baks skapa sjónræna spennu. Meðvitað útskot skapar jafnvægi milli setu og baks í gagnstæðar áttir. Bekkurinn er nær eingöngu úr evrópskri eik með svartri bæsun og þunn, handsaumuð seta úr brasilísku hnakkaleðri fullkomnar setuna.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award í bronsi

Desafinado Bekkur vann A' Design Award í bronsi, mjög virta viðurkenningu sem veitt er framúrskarandi hönnunarverkum sem einkennast af sköpunargáfu, hugvitssemi og skarpskyggni. Sigurvegarar í bronsi eru ríkulega leiknir og áberandi skapandi gripir sem staðfesta víðtæka reynslu, ímyndunarafl og útsjónarsemi hönnuða sinna. Þess er vænst að Desafinado Bekkur sé mjög metinn, dáður og elskaður hlutur sem er einstaklega fagmannlegur og nýstárlegur. Þetta hönnunarverk sem vann A' Design Award í bronsi felur í sér bestu starfsvenjur í list, vísindum, hönnun og tækni og er framúrskarandi fyrir athygli sína á smáatriðum. Desafinado Bekkur fullnægir þörfum á dásamlegan hátt, snertir langanir, heillar tilfinningar og vekur forvitni.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Desafinado bench is conceived as a study in balance and restraint. Rooted in Scandinavian design, it relies on simple, straight lines and clear geometry. The low-lying proportions invite a relaxed posture, while the split between back and seat creates a visual tension. An intentional overhang balances the extended seat and back to opposite directions, turning structure into function.
Dimensions & Packaging: Materials:
Black Stained Oak
Seat in saddle leather

Dimensions:
Width: 130 inches or 39624 mm
Depth: 16 inches or 4876.8 mm
Height: 22 inches or 6705.6 mm
Seat Height: 12 inches or 3657.6 mm
Tags: Bench, Brazilian, wood, Balance, furniture
Production Technology: The bench is built almost entirely from a single material: European oak. Finished with a black stain, the wood emphasizes grain, mass, and shadow. This restrained material choice reinforces the clarity of the design, allowing form, proportion, and structure to define the piece without distraction.
The bench is complemented with a thin, hand-stitched seat cushion upholstered in authentic Brazilian saddle leather forced from local small business.
Inspiration: The piece draws from Scandinavian clarity, but it is grounded in Brazilian brutalist modernism. Its forms are direct and architectural rather than delicate or refined. The bench avoids excessive polish, embracing weight, presence, and material honesty. This subtle roughness distinguishes it from Japanese minimalism and reinforces its brutalist character.
Project Duration: Conceived in Miami in 2022, the project evolved through an intensive four-month prototyping phase and reached its final form in August of that year. The bench exists as a true one-of-one piece; all remaining prototypes were deliberately destroyed upon completion, reinforcing its singularity.
Operation Flow: Beyond simple seating, the Desafinado Bench invites multiple uses: a surface to recline or stretch, a platform for books and objects, or an architectural element that works as a space divider or low table. It shifts easily between function and presence, adapting to the way the body and the room engage with it.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Cass Saldanha, 2022.
This design is available for reproduction. Please contact the Designer if you have interest in discuss intellectual property and licensing the rights.
Image Credits: Cassiano Saldanha